tree of life

The discovery of copious new archaeal species is shedding light on the tree of life and revealing some unique cellular biology.

Researchers create a new tree of life, largely composed of mystery bacteria.

A reanalysis of phylogenetic data places sponges, rather than comb jellies, back at the base of the animal tree.

Researchers map 2.3 million species in a single phylogeny. 

A look back at the latest microbes, plants, and animals to have secured a spot in science’s known tree of life in 2014

Evolution of Y chromosome; delivering gene with “bionic ears”; diversity of an important cyanobacterium; charting genome-sequencing progress; blockbuster pharma deals

Charting the progress of the various large-scale genome-sequencing projects as researchers working separately on their chosen species begin to pool analytical resources

How did Earth become biological?

What can bioinformatics and systems biology tell us about the ancestor of all living things?

Comb jellies take their place on the oldest branch of the animal family tree.  

Two newly discovered giant viruses are bigger than many bacteria and carry massive and largely unique genomes that hint at new branches of life.

The recently hyped amoeba-flagellate Collodictyon has many secrets to tell about early eukaryotic evolution.

Researchers investigate a microorganism that may warrant a new eukaryotic kingdom in the classification of life.